Pangaea Guides

Professional Sea Kayak and Glacier Guides

Pangaea Adventures hires to the highest standards and focuses on guides with a great balance of experience, safety, friendly personality, and education. Our guides care about the overall experience of every guest and strive to balance recreation and education. Each guide practices “leave no trace” ethics and creates a comfortable atmosphere for all levels of kayakers. Each head guide is trained in advanced wilderness medicine and rescue. Their backgrounds are all in guiding and teaching. We hire adults who are personable, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, patient, responsible, and safe.

Tim Duffy aka “Duff”

Duff has many years of experience guiding paddling, backpacking and ski-mountaineering trips throughout Alaska. Originally a Maine-ah, Duff usually ski guides winters in Nevada, explores the world on vacation, and is also one of our boat captains. You can sit back and enjoy the cruise with Duff while he throws fun facts at you and sometimes even raps them. He acquired the company in 2008 and says the Valdez vistas still have him in awe.

Kristina Duffy

A native to the Chicago area, Kristina joins us for her sixth season as the office manager for Pangaea. She graduated with a double BA in Environmental Studies and Spanish from Lake Forest College outside of the great city, and has since spent her time roaming the U.S. and Latin America. Ask her about exploring Machu Picchu, starting an organic farm at LFC, or learning first hand about immigration issues at the U.S./Mexico border. She’s done all these things! You can also ask her all about Pangaea Adventures, or about how she’s enjoyed her transition to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Natan Shayevich

Handle: Azerbaijan, The Wonder Bread Man.
Hailing from Chicago, Natan joins Pangaea as one of our interns for the summer. With a head packed full of stats, Natan will never cease to inform and amaze you while out with him for a paddle. While Natan isn’t shredding the office or on the water leading trips, you can find him strumming guitar or in the kitchen making tasty dishes you’ve never heard of while listening to a plethora of culturally diverse music. Be sure to ask him about one of his many exotic travel adventures abroad!

Will Shepard

Count yourself fortunate if you score Sick Willy as your guide, as he is one of the kindest, most genuine people you will ever meet. Radiating fun and positivity, Will is filled to the brim with a plethora of knowledge and is eager to share his love for the area with everyone around him. Feel free to ask him how he broke his knee last summer, what his favorite scooter tricks are, or how to warm up with the Penguin Dance. Sharp guy and stout cog in the machine of Pangaea Adventures!

Emma Houston

Easy E is one of those gals that you always want on your team. She’s got more experience under her (tow)belt than most folks twice her age. An Environmental Studies and Ecology major from the University of Maine, Emma joins Pangaea for yet another summer as our lead guide, and has also evolved into our beloved manager. Growing up in a family of raft guides, Emma learned water safety and paddle techniques at a young age. When she’s not practicing her rolls, leading multi sport adventures, or helping others learn the ropes, Emma enjoys running, skiing, berry picking, a good book, and exploring the world. She’s fun, sweet, wicked sharp, and she’ll blow your mind with her knowledge of Alaska!

Ben Richard

“Bazooka Joe” drove all the way to the land of 3,000,000 lakes from the land of 10,000 lakes. If you’re lucky enough to have him as your guide, you’ll probably see him on the stern of the boat with a pair of binoculars to his eyes, always scanning for wildlife with an enormous and inviting smile across his face. A proficient wildlife photographer, Ben is always excited and ready to capture the essence of the Prince William Sound and the many creatures that reside within this amazing seascape.

Nadine Mabbitt

Callsign: Special Pogies.
A former Lulu Belle deckhand who decided to get closer to the waterline this year, Mrs. Mabbitt joins her PeachFuzz as a skilled kayak guide for Pangaea. Ranging from Texas to South Carolina and Africa and Germany to France, Nadine considers Valdez her favorite place in the world. When she’s not guiding, you can find her helping out in the office, visiting with local friends, drinking in the sights, or enjoying a complicated caffeinated beverage from Latte Dah.

Hannah Haskell

“Squat” is from New York, not the city. The only thing stronger than her love for the Red Sox is her passion for squeezable peanut butter. She prides herself in her softball-sculpted biceps and her keen ability to woo the local boys by outlifting them with kayaks. Hannah is a sweet, genuine, easy-going gal with a level head and a good outlook on life. Whether she’s wielding the office or out on the water, we hope you get to experience her goodness.

Hallie Bontrager

“Pazookie” is as fun as her call sign. A tornado picked her up in Kansas and deposited her at our office, where we quickly realized that she has enough energy to make it sunny here year-round.We’re pretty sure she’s part of a secret organization; chances are, she knows somebody you know. When she’s not guiding she enjoys making crazy desserts, drinking coffee at Latte Dah and picking on “Milk Man” for his dairy consumption habit. At the end of a trip with Pazookie, you’ll be glad your path collided with hers, and you’ll feel like you picked up a new friend.

Seth Mabbitt

Callsign: Peach Fuzz.
It’ll be an even better day if you happen to score a trip with Seth as your guide! Unable to keep away from Valdez, Seth ditches the sweltering summer heat of South Carolina, where he is finishing up his degree in outdoor education and leadership at North Greenville University. He’s a bright, down-to-earth, east-to-talk-to, well-mannered gentleman, and a serious pleasure to spend time with. A well-rounded outdoor enthusiast, he loves being on the water, climbing, or crashing BBQs.

Ashleigh Bicknell

“Inquisitor” will always get to the bottom of things. She smuggled herself to Valdez from Salt Lake City in a box of gluten-free bread, and is super excited for her first year at Pangaea. She’ll never say no to a dip in glacial water, as long as it’s followed by a brisk jog to our sauna. When she is not guiding or studying, she enjoys rock climbing and ski instructing. Ask her about how she befriended the most beautiful man in Valdez!

Warren Asher

“Captain Crypto” is Pangaea’s MVP, the Master of the Mayflower Star. Without him, the show does not go on! This guy comes to Valdez originally from Salem, Mass, where he grew up on the water with his dad as a lobsterman, and brings his 100 ton masters with experience boating on the east coast, in Florida, and on Lake Tahoe. He works hard and is well equipped to take you on any Pangaea Adventure. You can relax and enjoy the cruise with Warren, knowing he will provide an unforgettable water taxi ride and get you home safely!

Kyle Paar

“Milk Man” was carved out of a block of cheddar in America’s dairyland. This rambunctious jokester enjoys soaking in the sights as much as he enjoys soaking in his daily milk baths. The rest of the guides are still scrambling to figure out how to pay him back for his pranks! He’s a company favorite as a post-tour-beer buddy, where you can hear about his world travels or any future construction projects he has planned for his tent. And, as much as he loves drinking it, he always gives more than 2% in his guiding.

Annie Hill

Anastasia joins Pangaea this summer as our office manager, hailing from Maryland but most recently living in Mammoth Lakes. She loves traveling, biking in the rain, and enjoying all the tastes that Valdez has to offer. Her customer service skills are sweet and she’s always smiling and happy to answer questions. You can count on her to set you up with the perfect kayak adventure for your time in Valdez!

Simon Winter

“Gray Water” is our nine and a half fingered intern this summer. Hailing from a self-sustaining farm in Connecticut, he loves foraging, compiling the freshest soundtracks this side of the Chugach, and his baby: a nalgene tupperware. He is very energetic, loves talking to people and tells great stories. Whether he’s hard at work or hardly working, be sure to corner him and ask him how he got his callsign.

Hannah McGowan

Hailing from Memphis, TN, Hannah came to Valdez for the first time as an intern with Pangaea in the summer of 2007. Mystified by the grandeur of Prince William Sound and fascinated by its rich biodiversity, she has returned to Pangaea for many summers to share this unique place with others as a lead guide and trainer. She has pursued studies in marine ecology and wilderness leadership at Prescott College, so she is psyched and well equipped to nerd out about sea life, especially whales and intertidal invertebrates. Since graduating, she has fallen in love with rock and mountain climbing, turning her attention to desert splitters, granite masses, and icy massifs between ski seasons, which she usually spends skiing up and down the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Feeling the pull of the great north and it’s rugged coastline, she often emerges from the landlocked mountains and deserts to return to us in Prince William Sound.

Sam Benoit

Hailing from land of the second best cheddar in the world, Sam got his start as an outdoor professional by logging many hours in the woods and on the mountains and waters of Vermont. Since 2010, Sam has led clients on all of the tours Pangaea has to offer, has served as the resident handy man, is a nasty mechanic, obtained his Master License and captained Pangaea’s water taxis, and has operated as a manager and guide trainer. Sam is neither bashful nor unlearned in the flora and fauna of the region so even though he looks like he just crawled out from the depths of the Mayflower Star’s engine room, don’t be shy about asking him a question!

Pete Cueno

Pete Cueno (pronounced Cwain-yo) emerged from the caves of Maquoketa, Iowa where he spent 18 years wrestling corn bears and breaking hearts before earning his B.S. at the “Harvard of the Midwest,” as well as the title of “Third Most Successful Cueno Child.” After reaching his full potential in the heartland, Pete set off to become Pangaea’s most triple rectified guide, whose wilderness experience, in addition to his countless sea kayak, backpack, and raft expeditions, ranges from alpine ascents in Patagonia to backcountry snowboard trips throughout the Western United States. In his many years with Pangaea, the Sweeter Sueño has led every single trip on the menu, as well as operated as general manager, whitewater extraordinaire, and guide-training guru. He is a witty fountain of knowledge and will lay down his all to ensure that you have the best experience possible. This guy is the real deal.

Thomas Mooney-Myers

“Mas” came to us after having developed his love of sea kayaking and whitewater in the Pacific Northwest. As comfortable charging the rapids of Keystone Canyon as he is paddling in the serene beauty of Columbia Bay, Thomas will make you feel confident and at ease on any trip out with him. He’s a quick-wit and always has a fun, positive buzz about him. Well known for his insatiable appetite for knowledge, Thomas cannot wait to fill your ear with all of the interesting factoids he has bottled up inside. Feel free to snuggle up close, and ask why the baby seal is his spirit animal.

Mike Dooley

Mike Dooley, aka “Dooley”, aka “Baldy”, is a legend around Pangaea. He first joined the team as an arctic intern, then returned as a lead guide for many years, and now often helps out with training. He is a most enthusiastic guide with a true love for what he does. Graduating with a degree in Environmental Education and also becoming an NOLS kayaking instructor, Dooley is sure to teach you a thing or two. If you ever have the good fortune of meeting this genuine pleasure, be sure to ask him about his cheeseburger addiction, or unmistakable support for the Boston Bruins.

Kate Klibansky

Kate Klibansky, otherwise known as “Giggles”, is one of our all-time favorite guides at Pangaea. Be it navigating icebergs or rapids, Kate’s guidance is as fun, professional, and personable as it gets. A major fan of Alaskan grandeur, Maine whitewater and Utah powder, Kate is kind, smart, giggly, and an absolute pleasure to be around.

Ruby Rose

Born and raised in Valdez, meet our team mascot, Ruby! She’s Australian Shepherd and Australian Cattle Dog, but her red heeler genes run strong. She loves swimming and playing frisbee most, but will join any adventure you take her on. She enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking, sun bathing and boat rides and is always on the hunt for a stinky salmon carcass. Ruby joined the Duffy family and Pangaea team in 2017 and is always making new friends. Stop by our office to say hello sometime, and look out for her many siblings around town!

Dylan Duffy

Our youngest guide joins the team just shy of 2 years of age. He didn’t have much of a choice, as he was born into Pangaea and has been steeped in the adventure since conception. He enjoys helping mom in the office, driving boats with dad, or practicing slap shots in the garage with his pal Ruby. Ask Dylan to help you fix a kayak, and he’ll be there with his toy tools in a heartbeat!

Pangaea Guides

Professional Sea Kayak and Glacier Guides

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Tim Duffy aka “Duff”

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Kristina Duffy

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Natan Shayevich

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<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9256 " src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3132.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="254">Emma Houston

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<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Nadine2.jpeg" alt="" width="250" height="350">Nadine Mabbitt

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Hannah_Haskell.jpg" alt="" width="280" height="100">Hannah Haskell

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<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Seth.jpg" alt="" width="325" height="280">Seth Mabbitt

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Ashleigh_Bicknell-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="280" height="100">Ashleigh Bicknell

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Warren_Asher-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="280" height="100">Warren Asher

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Kyle_Paar.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="480">Kyle Paar

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/Annie_Hill.jpeg" alt="" width="280" height="100">Annie Hill

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<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/pangaea-guide-sam-benoit.jpg" alt="" width="356" height="242">Sam Benoit

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/pangaea-guide-pete-cueno.jpg" alt="" width="239" height="271">Pete Cueno

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/pangaea-guide-thomas-mooney-myers.jpg" alt="" width="371" height="208">Thomas Mooney-Myers

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignleft wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/fb-pic.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="250">Mike Dooley

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9248" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/pangaea-guide-kate-klibansky.jpeg" alt="" width="258" height="303">Kate Klibansky

<img loading="lazy" class="one-edge-shadow alignright wp-image-9249" src="https://www.alaskasummer.com/wp-content/uploads/DTD-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="325" height="325">Dylan Duffy